More than a dozen dead birds reported along Western Australia's southern coast, with the first H5 avian influenza case found near Esperance. Authorities are testing carcasses, and the poultry industry is bracing for potential devastation.
The highly pathogenic H5 strain of avian influenza has been detected in a brown skua found on a remote beach near Esperance, Western Australia. This marks the first time the disease has been found in Australia, with samples from a second bird, a giant petrel, also returning a suspected positive result.
The H5 variant of avian influenza has been detected in a bird found on a remote beach in Western Australia, marking the first time the disease has appeared in Australia. Further testing confirmed the H5 strain in a brown skua, with a second bird, a giant northern petrel, also showing a suspected positive result. Authorities are urging the public to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and are preparing response measures, though there is no evidence of mass mortalities or infection in poultry at this time.
Egg producers are facing a profit squeeze as prices fall due to oversupply, while input costs for feed, fuel, and labor remain high. Despite strong consumer demand for protein, lower wholesale prices mask the financial strain on farmers.
